Written Answers

Wednesday 26 July 2000

Scottish Executive

Birds

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking as part of its forestry strategy to protect biodiversity and, in particular, to halt the decline in the capercaillie population due to deaths on deer fencing and disturbance of lek sites, in part as a result of forestry operations.

Mr John Home Robertson: We are currently developing our Scottish Forestry Strategy. This will reaffirm our commitment to the UK Biodiversity Action Plans, including the Species Action Plan for capercaillie.

  The Forestry Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Deer Commission for Scotland, the Scottish Executive and voluntary organisations such as the RSPB have all been working together to investigate the main causes of the decline in the capercaillie population and to recommend what action should be taken now. This work has identified several causes of the decline.

  The Forestry Commission has removed redundant fencing from its own land, and provides grants for private woodland owners to remove redundant fencing from their land. Working with partners, the commission ensures that applicants for grant aid erect any necessary fencing in ways which minimise effects on capercaillie, and is jointly developing alternative fence designs that minimise risk to capercaillie and other woodland grouse.

  The Forestry Commission and other members of the Species Action Plan Steering Group, working with the Scottish Biodiversity Group, have also published advice on managing woodland to benefit capercaillie, and the Scottish Executive has supported the RSPB in providing guidance on minimising disturbance at lek sites.

Body Piercing

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-5398 by Susan Deacon on 30 March 2000, what progress is being made in the preparation of the consultation paper seeking views on the need or otherwise for controls over skin piercing.

Susan Deacon: I refer to my answer of 12 May to question S1W-6002 from Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray).

Body Piercing

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any knowledge of diseases transmitted by body piercing undertaken in unhygienic conditions.

Susan Deacon: If body piercing is carried out in unhygienic conditions, local infections of surrounding skin and superficial tissues can be caused by a number of organisms. The possibility also exists that more serious infections including hepatitis B and C and HIV infection can be transmitted in this way. Where such infections occur it is not always clear what the transmission route has been. The Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health is not aware of any cases in Scotland where it has been confirmed that a serious infection resulted from body piercing.

Employment

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it estimates that the number of unemployed persons in the three Local Enterprise Council areas of Inverness and Nairn, Ross and Cromarty and Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey which totalled 4,738 as at September 1999 will increase and, if so, what its estimates are of the number in these areas in January, February, March, April, May, June and July of 2000.

Henry McLeish: The Scottish Executive does not produce forecasts of unemployment either for local areas or for Scotland as a whole.

Enterprise

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to market Scotland abroad and what budget is to be assigned for this purpose.

Henry McLeish: Scottish Trade International is the Government agency responsible for trade and exports from Scotland as well as for co-ordinating a Scottish involvement within the overall UK presence at international events and exhibitions. Scotland the Brand promotes Scotland overseas to consumers and potential visitors, and Locate in Scotland to potential inward investors. Scottish Executive representatives, at ministerial and official level, regularly promote Scotland to inward visitors as well as on their visits overseas.

  Scotland is, therefore, marketed abroad in a variety of ways, through a variety of agencies. No single budget is specifically assigned for this purpose.

Enterprise

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement on the future of Scottish Development Overseas.

Henry McLeish: The future of Scottish Development Overseas is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise and I have asked the Chairman of Scottish Enterprise to reply. A copy of the reply will be placed in SPICe.

European Funding

Allan Wilson (Cunninghame North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to make public the work of the new Programme Monitoring Committees for European Structural Funds programmes.

Mr Jack McConnell: I am pleased to confirm that all minutes of meetings and papers relating to meetings of the new Programme Monitoring Committees for European Structural Funds in Scotland 2000-06 will in future be made available following each meeting on the Scottish Executive websites, as well as on the websites of the programme partnership.

  I see this as a positive step towards delivering a transparent process for implementing the new Structural Fund Programmes in Scotland as recommended in the recent Report on the Review of the Programme Management Executives. This is a further indication that Scotland continues to be at the leading edge in implementing European Structural Fund Programmes by opening the deliberations of these committees to public scrutiny.

Fuel Duty

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will instigate studies into the schemes operated in (a) Greece to assist areas outwith Athens and Thessaloniki by the imposition of price ceilings on gasoline, (b) Italy for the areas of Val D’Aosta and Gonzia where there is a derogation in respect of fuel duty and (c) France in terms of the policies aimed at assisting areas there suffering from low population.

Sarah Boyack: No. Policy on fuel duty derogations is reserved.

Fuel Duty

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it has sought or obtained on whether it is possible to obtain derogations to allow a fuel subsidy to be paid in (a) any part of Scotland and (b) some or all of the islands of Scotland.

Sarah Boyack: Policy on fuel duty derogations is reserved.

Genetically Modified Crops

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when and from whom it discovered that the control seed for the farm scale trial at Daviot contained GM contaminated seed.

Ross Finnie: I refer to my answer to question S1W-8169.

  Following enquiries, my officials received this information on 9 June from a representative of Aventis, the company undertaking the trial at Daviot.

Genetically Modified Crops

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations it carried out and when to determine whether the control crop planted at Daviot might contain contaminated seed.

Ross Finnie: Information on the location of sites where the contaminated seed had been planted was requested from Advanta on 19 May. We understand that the complex distribution chain made it difficult for Advanta to provide this information readily. It was not until 9 June that those responsible for the trial at Daviot were able to respond to our enquiries and confirm that the control crop contained a small proportion of contaminated seed.

Health

Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence is of prolonged side effects following the use of corticosteroids.

Susan Deacon: This information is not held by the Executive. Suspected adverse reactions to medicinal products are reported to the Committee on Safety of Medicines and to the Medicines Control Agency, who are jointly responsible for monitoring drug safety in the UK.

Influenza

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many flu vaccines have been ordered to meet the demands of the vaccination programme starting in October 2000.

Susan Deacon: Currently, flu vaccine is ordered by community pharmacists in anticipation of demand from general practice. Information is collected centrally about the vaccines dispensed but not the orders placed.

  I announced on 23 May an extension of the flu vaccine immunisation programme to everyone aged 65 and over. Community pharmacists have been advised to take this into account when ordering supplies.

NHS Funding

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of Scottish Gross Domestic Product is spent on the NHS in Scotland and how this figure compares to the percentage spent by each of our EU partners and the EU average.

Susan Deacon: The following table shows public expenditure on health as a proportion of GDP in Scotland and in countries within the European Community in 1997 - the latest year for which comparable data are available.

  


Public Expenditure on Health 
as Percentage of GDP




Country


%




Germany


8.3




Sweden


7.2




France


7.1




Belgium


6.7




Denmark


6.7




Luxembourg


6.4




Netherlands


6.2




Austria


6.0




United Kingdom


5.8




Finland


5.7




Spain


5.6




Italy


5.3




Greece


5.0




Ireland


4.9




Portugal


4.7




EU Average


6.5




Scotland


6.4




  Notes:

  1.The source of the data for European countries is the OECD healthcare database 1999. The estimate for Scotland is based on total NHS expenditure and an estimate of GDP at market prices.

  2. OECD estimates of health expenditure as a percentage of GDP use GDP at market prices. Although this figure is available for the UK, separate estimates are not made of GDP at market prices for regions within the UK. To obtain a figure for GDP at market prices in Scotland the following method has been used: it has been assumed that the Scottish share of UK GDP at market prices (including North Sea oil output) is the same as the share of GDP at factor cost. It should be noted that estimates of UK GDP at market prices may be subject to revision and this would affect the estimate of Scottish GDP at market prices.

  3. The EU average has been estimated by weighting together the figures for individual European countries, with each country’s GDP used as the relative weight.

  4. Private expenditure on healthcare is excluded from these figures.

  Expenditure on the NHS in Scotland in 1997 was about the same percentage as the EU average, although comparisons of health expenditure between countries should be treated with considerable caution. There are differences between countries in methods of organising and delivering healthcare as well as differences in funding arrangements. There may also be differences in methods of recording expenditure on healthcare and, as the OECD point out, "the very definition of healthcare…differs from country to country". All of these factors may distort comparisons between countries.

  The Scottish Executive is committed to making substantial increases in health spending for the duration of this Parliament. As tangible evidence of this, health spending in the current year has been increased by almost £500 million on last year’s planned level of funding and is due to increase by a further £2.095 billion over the next three years. This represents a significant investment in the NHS in Scotland and the Executive is now working with the service to ensure that the resources are invested effectively in a way that will deliver sustainable improvements for patients across Scotland.

NHS Funding

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to increase the allocation of Additional Costs of Teaching monies to general practice in recognition of the increase in community-based teaching.

Susan Deacon: The level of funding provided for General Practice Undergraduate Teaching is for negotiation between the relevant health board, NHS Trusts and university.

Occupational Health

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what staffing levels in the field of occupational therapy within Angus were in each of the past five years.

Susan Deacon: This is a matter for the Tayside Health Board. The information requested is not held centrally.

Police

Dorothy-Grace Elder (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision is made to compensate Lothian and Borders Police for the loss of police officers from usual duties as a result of the police presence required at the Palace of Holyroodhouse at times when the Queen is present.

Angus MacKay: Funding for the police is provided annually through the GAE process, which, for the current year, was based on estimates supplied by police forces. Funding is allocated in its entirety and not on the basis of specific operational requirements or policing tasks. The deployment of resources and the setting of operational priorities are matters for the Chief Constable.

Prison Service

Nick Johnston (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Drug Enforcement Agency will have in Scotland’s prisons.

Angus Mackay: The Drug Enforcement Agency will have no direct role within Scotland’s prisons but the two agencies are in close discussion to agree liaison and co-ordination arrangements.

Roads

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps will be taken to safeguard vehicle access to Glasgow Airport given the implications which the decision on the recent planning application from IKEA at Braehead could have for the M8.

Sarah Boyack: The Scottish Executive has been consulted by Glasgow City Council on the likely traffic impact of the IKEA proposals on the M8 and will respond shortly.

School Meals

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown by education authority of free school meals uptake as at the last available census day.

Peter Peacock: The information requested is shown in the table below and has been derived from the 1999-2000 Survey of School Meals conducted by the Scottish Executive Education Department.

  Free School Meal Uptake in January 2000 by Education Authority

  


Education authority


Number of pupils 
recorded as entitled to free meals


Of which
present and taking 
a meal on the Census day


Percentage Uptake




Scotland


151,042


109,905


72.8




Aberdeen City


3,542


3,001


84.7




Aberdeenshire 


2,345


2,133


91.0




Angus 


1,652


1,313


79.5




Argyll & Bute 


1,846


1,441


78.1




Clackmannanshire 


1,570


1,314


83.7




Dumfries & Galloway


2,553


2,201


86.2




Dundee City 


5,522


3,279


59.4




East Ayrshire


4,119


3,249


78.9




East Dunbartonshire


1,818


1,385


76.2




East Lothian


1,904


1,235


64.9




East Renfrewshire


1,591


1,138


71.5




Edinburgh, City of


11,226


7,977


71.1




Eilean Siar


484


396


81.8




Falkirk


4,098


3,362


82.0




Fife


9,316


7,294


78.3




Glasgow City


33,263


23,892


71.8




Highland


4,869


3,135


64.4




Inverclyde


3,245


2,461


75.8




Midlothian


2,336


1,488


63.7




Moray


1,383


1,141


82.5




North Ayrshire


5,478


4,513


82.4




North Lanarkshire


13,192


8,739


66.2




Orkney Islands


259


217


83.8




Perth & Kinross


1,468


1,205


82.1




Renfrewshire1


6,742


4,240


62.9




Scottish Borders


1,323


1,058


80.0




Shetland Islands


275


246


89.5




South Ayrshire


2,774


2,094


75.5




South Lanarkshire


9,891


6,601


66.7




Stirling


2,115


1,491


70.5




West Dunbartonshire


4,553


3,562


78.2




West Lothian


4,290


3,104


72.4




  Notes:

  1. This table contains January 1999 results for Renfrewshire as the January 2000 results are undergoing further scrutiny.

Scottish Executive Expenditure

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has spent on computers, or related equipment, for its own use since July 1999, and whether any of these purchases subsequently turned out to be unsuitable for the purposes for which they were intended, or have not yet been fully utilised.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive has spent £3.13 million including VAT on computers and related equipment for use on the core Scottish Executive network since July 1999. None of these purchases has subsequently turned out to be unsuitable for the purpose for which it was intended. The figure above includes equipment held available for planned deployments during the next few months, valued at £263,000 including VAT. The Scottish Executive holds such a stock because purchasing single items of standard computer equipment can offer poor value for money.

Tourism

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it or the Scottish Tourist Board has detected any trends in visitor numbers or country of origin in the current tourist season and what comparisons are available with the last five years.

Henry McLeish: Trends in Overall Numbers of Visitors (British & Overseas (million))

  





1995


1996


1997


1998


1999




Number


11.62


12.52


13.2


11.94


12.41




  Source: STB

  Trends in Visitors from Key Overseas Countries (000)

  

 

1995


1996


1997


1998


1999




USA


418


406


429


470


435




Germany


239


237


239


211


190




Ireland


165


167


184


194


170




Canada


126


133


142


136


119




France


157


150


149


133


132




Netherlands


60


76


108


107


75




Belgium/Luxembourg


46


65


46


52


39




Italy


78


92


73


75


102




Spain


50


63


50


61


61




Switzerland


41


45


28


34


N/A




Australia


117


130


149


104


98




Japan


48


32


33


47


32




  Source: STB

  Data showing differences by country of origin for the current tourist season is not yet available.

  1999 figures show that there has been a 20% increase in domestic trips, and business visitors are staying longer and spending more. Unfortunately, some of the overseas markets are down. A New Strategy for Scottish Tourism sets ambitious targets to address this by increasing investment, improving marketing and ensuring that the rich potential of niche markets like golf are fully exploited.

Transsexual People

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the report to the UK Government of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People will be available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre.

Angus MacKay: The Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People reported to the UK Government just before Easter.

  Copies of the report have today been placed in the libraries of the United Kingdom Parliament. The report will also be available on the Home Office website, with printed copies to be provided on application to that department.

  A copy of the report has today been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 7182). In addition, the report is available on the Internet through a link in the Scottish Executive website.